Zimbabwe’s poor get helping hand

POPULAR teacher aide Deb Turner has quit her job at Caloundra Christian College, rented out her house and is relocating to a country that ranks 154 spots lower than Australia on the United Nation's list of the world's most liveable countries.

She will share her new home in Bulawayo - a city where even the essentials such as electricity are sporadic - with three foster children and volunteer at a school for the underpriviledged.

"It's something I just felt led to do," Ms Turner said. "I know not everyone can understand it, but it's something I feel very passionately about."

Her love affair with Zimbabwe started four years ago when a friend suggested a visit to volunteer at an orphanage for one month.

The need for help in the country is dire, with the UN regularly ranking it near the bottom of the annual Human Development Index, which is a composite index of life expectancy, years of schooling and income.

Australia was second in the world on the 2014 index, while Zimbabwe was 154th in the 187 countries ranked.

"You just live a totally different lifestyle over there," Ms Turner said.

"Things are a lot slower. You can wake up one day and there's no electricity for the day and you've just got to make another plan."

Ms Turner will use the skills she learned during her 13 years at Caloundra Christian College to teach students basic computing skills and help the school as an administrator. She will also look after two 21-year-olds and an 18-year old she met through the orphanage, helping them develop the skills needed to live independently.